FIRESIDE EDUCATION - online book

How Best To Educate Your Child At Home

word, or deed, to inflict pain upon the sensitive bosom of his little playfellows, interpose a de­cisive check. If you see him indifferent, care­less, or wanton in respect to the feelings of his companions, let him understand that it is an offence against parental authority. Teach him to mould all his feelings and manners so as to please and gratify those around him. Self-love, as before remarked, is the master passion, and selfishness unchecked is likely to rule the heart, and obtrude its harsh features through every look, and tone, and gesture. If we Avould be virtuous, we must repress selfishness. If we would be loved, we must learn to check its dis­play. Politeness is a training which renders this easy. It teaches us, when tempted by self­ishness to snatch at some proffered pleasure, to defer our own wishes to the claims of others. It not only hides, but it crushes those petty de­sires, whims and caprices, which, if indulged, deform the character, and, if diffused, would deprive society of its brightest charms.

I would say, then, teach politeness to children; teach it as a principle of duty; encourage its practice, that it may become a matter of habit. After sleep, let the family circle meet in the morn­ing with a kindly salutation: as they part to rest, let their last words be a fond " good night."